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UN Photo / Loey Felipe Members of the Security Council observe a moment of silence for Israeli civilians and foreign nationals who lost their lives on 7 October in Israel, and all Palestinian civilians who lost their lives in the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as well as UN staff members and journalists who lost their lives in the Gaza Strip ahead of the Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. 10 November 2023.

In 2023, the Security Council maintained a high level of activity with a similar number of meetings compared to 2022. There were fewer decisions (eight per cent decrease in resolutions and presidential statements) and fewer press statements (50 per cent decrease). Although there were more unanimously adopted resolutions, there was also a 43 per cent increase in the number of failed resolutions. In 2023, there were also three procedural votes compared to two in 2022. The Council terminated the mandate of one peacekeeping operation, one special political mission and one sanctions regime. The Council dispatched two missions to the field.

Introduction

In 2023, the Security Council was composed of its five permanent members (China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States), as well as ten non-permanent members, namely Albania, Brazil, Ecuador, Gabon, Ghana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates. Among the ten elected members, Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates completed their two-year tenure at the end of 2023.

A historical overview of the Security Council membership is available in the Membership Dashboard prepared by the Security Council Affairs Division.

Meetings

Meetings of the Security Council are governed by Article 28 of the Charter of the United Nations, and rules 1-5 and 48 of its Provisional Rules of Procedure. Under its current practice, the Council convenes meetings, which are classified as either public or private. Council members also frequently meet in informal consultations of the whole (also known as consultations).

UN Photo / Loey Felipe Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations; James Cleverly, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom; and Barbara Woodward, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations, talk before the start of the first ever Security Council meeting on artificial intelligence (AI). 18 July 2023.

In 2023, the Council held a total of 290 meetings and 124 consultations of the whole, averaging 24 meetings and 10 consultations per month.

290 public and private meetings

124 consultations

Overview

In 2023, the Council held 290 meetings, 271 of which were public, while 19 were held in private. For the first time in a decade, the Council held private meetings under the agenda items “The situation in the Middle East” and “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”. Eight of the private meetings were held in relation to conflict-specific items (“The situation in Afghanistan”, “The situation in the Middle East”, “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”, “The situation in Myanmar” and “The situation in Somalia”), while the remaining 10 were meetings with troop- and police-contributing countries. The Council also held a private meeting to hear the briefing by the President of the International Court of Justice. The Council held a total of 124 consultations in 2023, during which it heard briefings, and held discussions under “Other matters” (also known as “Any Other Business” (AOB)) on 27 occasions.

UN Photo / Paulo Filgueiras
A view of the Security Council meeting on maintenance of international peace and security. Standing at left at the table is Ferit Hoxha, Permanent Representative of Albania to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of September, and in the centre is Albana Dautllari, Deputy Permanent Representative of Albania to the United Nations. 29 September 2023.

CHART 1A

Number of Security Council meetings and consultations 1946-2023

_{* Informal consultations of the whole were held since the inception of the Security Council. This chart only includes data on informal consultations of the whole from 1988 onwards since prior records are not verifiable.}

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 1a

CHART 1B

Number of Security Council meetings and consultations 2014-2023

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 1b

Meetings and consultations

In 2023, the Council held, on average, 24 meetings and 10 consultations per month. October recorded the highest number of public and private meetings (a total of 36), while the highest number of consultations were held in December (a total of 14). The number of public and private meetings decreased slightly in 2023 with respect to the previous year, with a similar trend observed in the number of consultations.

For further details, explore Chart 2 below.

UN Photo / Loey Felipe Catriona Laing (left), Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia, greets Carolyn Abena Anima Oppong-Ntiri, Deputy Permanent Representative of Ghana to the United Nations, ahead of the Security Council meeting on the situation in Somalia. 22 June 2023.

CHART 2

Number of Security Council meetings and consultations by month in 2023

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 2

High-level meetings

In 2023, the Council held 25 high-level meetings, in which two or more Council members were represented at ministerial level or above, a similar trend with respect to 2022. The topics of high-level meetings included both thematic and country-specific items.

Council members held 18 high-level meetings in connection with a variety of thematic items and topics. Six were held in connection with the agenda item “Maintenance of international peace and security”, while three each took place under the items “Women and peace and security” and “Threats to international peace and security”. Moreover, seven high-level meetings were held in relation to country-specific or regional situations, most of which were in connection with Ukraine and the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.

For further details, explore section I of the Annex.

UN Photo / Loey Felipe Secretary-General António Guterres arrives to the Security Council with Daniel Noboa Azin, Constitutional President of the Republic of Ecuador and President of the Security Council for the month of December. The Security Council is meeting on threats to international peace and security with focus on transnational organized crime, growing challenges and new threats. 7 December 2023.

Representatives on the Council

In 2023, the number of women PRs and DPRs on the Council was 18, while the number of men PRs and DPRs was 25 (five women PRs out of a total of 15, and 13 women DPRs out of a total of 28).

For further details, explore Charts 3 a and b below.

UN Photo / Eskinder Debebe José de la Gasca (front right), Permanent Representative of Ecuador to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of December, speaks with Sérgio França Danese (front left), Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations, ahead of the Security Council meeting on peace and security in Africa. 1 December 2023.

CHART 3A

Permanent Representatives (PR) on the Council 2019-2023

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 3a

CHART 3B

Deputy Permanent Representatives (DPR) on the Council 2019-2023

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 3b

Invitations under rule 39 of the Provisional Rules of Procedure

According to rule 39 of the Provisional Rules of Procedure, the Council may invite members of the Secretariat or other persons, whom it considers competent for the purpose, to supply it with information or to give other assistance in examining matters within its competence.

The Council continued to see an upward trend in the number of invitations extended under rule 39, with 479 such invitations extended in 2023 compared to 445 in 2022 (over seven per cent increase). A total of 285 invitees were men (59 per cent) and 194 were women (41 per cent). A total of 272 invitations were extended to UN system officials, 84 to officials representing regional intergovernmental organizations, 13 to invitees from international organizations other than the UN, and 110 to representatives of other entities, such as non-governmental organizations and civil society. In comparison to 2022, there was a notable increase in the number of invitations extended to representatives of regional intergovernmental organizations and other entities, such as non-governmental organizations and civil society.

For further details, explore Charts 4 a and b below.

UN Photo / Manuel Elías Ms. Violeta, a child civil society representative, briefs the Security Council during the meeting on how to prevent and respond to grave violations against children in armed conflict. 5 July 2023.

CHART 4A

Rule 39 invitees 2014-2023

_{* The category “UN system” includes officials of the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID).}

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 4a

In terms of gender, in 2023, except for the representatives of other entities, such as non-governmental organizations and civil society, all other categories of invitees under rule 39 registered similar trends with respect to 2022. Of the 272 invitations extended to UN system officials, 154 (or 56.6 per cent) were to men and 118 (or 43.4 per cent) to women. Of the 84 invitations extended to officials representing regional intergovernmental organizations, 69 (or 82 per cent) were to men and 15 (or 18 per cent) to women, similar to the trends observed under this category in 2022. Of the 13 invitations extended to international organizations other than the UN, seven (or 54 per cent) were to men and six (or 46 per cent) to women. Of the 110 invitations extended to representatives of other entities, such as non-governmental organizations and civil society, 55 (or 50 per cent) were extended to men and 55 (or 50 per cent) to women, a significant decrease with respect to the percentage of women under this category in 2022.

UN Photo / Eskinder Debebe Izumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, briefs the Security Council meeting on threats to international peace and security. 31 March 2023.

CHART 4B

Rule 39 invitees 2014-2023 (by gender)

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 4b

Informal consultations of the whole

In 2023, Council members held 124 consultations, including one at the request of the Secretary-General to discuss the developments in the Sudan on 31 May. The most frequently discussed topics in consultations during 2023 were the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, Yemen and Syria.

For further details, explore Figure 1 below.

FIGURE 1

Frequency of topics discussed in informal consultations of the whole in 2023

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Figure 1

Informal interactive dialogues

Informal interactive dialogues (IIDs) are considered an activity of the Council. As such, they are convened at the initiative of one or more Council members, with the participation of all Council members and are presided over by the President of the Council for the month. They are intended to seek the views of Member States that are parties to a conflict and/or other interested and affected parties. IIDs are not open to the public or broadcast. In 2023, the Council held six IIDs, three of which were convened in connection with the Middle East concerning the humanitarian situation in Syria pursuant to resolution 2642 (2022).

For further details, explore section II of the Annex.

UN Photo / Eskinder Debebe Pascale Christine Baeriswyl (at podium), Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations, and João Genésio de Almeida Filho, Deputy Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations, co-penholders on the Syria humanitarian file brief reporters after the Security Council consultations. 13 February 2023.

CHART 5

Number of informal interactive dialogues (IIDs) 2014-2023

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 5

Arria-formula meetings

Arria-formula meetings are informal gatherings convened at the initiative of one or more Council members (in some instances, they are convened also by non-Council members) with the participation of all or some Council members. Arria-formula meetings do not constitute an activity of the Council and are not presided by the President of the Council. While in past practice Arria-formula meetings were closed to the public, since 2016, most of these meetings have been open to the public or even broadcast. In 2023, the Council held 22 Arria-formula meetings.

For further details, explore section III of the Annex and Chart 6 below.

Additional information about all Arria-formula meetings held since 1992 is available in a dedicated dashboard prepared by the Security Council Affairs Division.

UN Photo / Manuel Elías Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations, briefs reporters on Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. With her are, from left to right: Joonkook Hwang, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations; Ferit Hoxha, Permanent Representative of Albania to the United Nations; and Kimihiro Ishikane, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations. 17 March 2023.

CHART 6

Number of Arria-formula meetings 2014-2023

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 6

In 2023, several Council members continued to coalesce around policy goals, regions and thematic issues, including on Women and Peace and Security and on Climate and Peace and Security.

Coalescing within the Council

In 2023, several Council members continued to coalesce around policy goals, regions and thematic issues. On 21 March, Malta, Mozambique, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates issued a statement of joint pledges related to climate and peace and security. They were joined on 30 August by Albania, France, Gabon, Ghana, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, whose representatives also pledged to focus on the implications of climate change for international peace and security amongst the priorities of their respective terms on the Council, including through their presidencies (see also S/2023/1081). Similarly, the signatories of the Statement of Shared Commitments for the principles of Women and Peace and Security (Albania, Brazil, Ecuador, France, Gabon, Japan, Malta, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States) held joint press stakeouts throughout the year (see also S/2023/1080). Continuing with the approach followed since 2020, the A3 (Gabon, Ghana and Mozambique) continued to frequently deliver joint statements in both country-specific and thematic meetings of the Council.

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD

Missions

Article 34 of the Charter of the United Nations provides that the Security Council may investigate any dispute or any situation which may lead to international friction or give rise to a dispute. Missions of Council members to the field have taken place since 1964.

Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations Security Council members visit the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
9 March 2023.

In 2023, the Council sent one mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, co-led by France and Gabon, and one to Ethiopia, co-led by Brazil and Mozambique.

Missions in 2023

In 2023, the Council dispatched two visiting missions. From 9 to 12 March, the Council sent a mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, co-led by France and Gabon, during which it visited Kinshasa and Goma; and from 5 to 6 October to Ethiopia, co-led by Brazil and Mozambique, during which it visited Addis Ababa. In its mission to Ethiopia, Council members held their 8^th informal joint seminar and the 17^th annual joint consultative meeting with the African Union Peace and Security Council. Further to the completion of the first mission, the Council held a briefing in the context of a public meeting (S/PV.9297) and issued a presidential statement (S/PRST/2023/3).

For further details, explore section IV of the Annex, Chart 7 and Figure 2 below.

Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations Security Council members visit the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 9 March 2023.

FIGURE 2

Security Council missions in 2023

CHART 7

Number of Security Council missions by region 2014-2023

_{* In 2014, the Security Council dispatched two missions; one mission to Africa and one mission to both Africa and Europe.}

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 7

Agenda

In accordance with rule 11 of the Provisional Rules of Procedure and presidential note of 30 August 2017 (S/2017/507), every January, the Council reviews the list of matters of which it is seized. Agenda items which have not been considered at a Council meeting in the preceding three years are deleted, unless a Member State requests that an item be retained on the list. In the latter case, an item will remain on the list for an additional year, unless the Council decides otherwise, and will be subject to the same procedure described above if not considered by the Council during that subsequent year.

UN Photo / Loey Felipe Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, chairs the Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. 29 November 2023.

In 2023, the Security Council considered a total of 47 agenda items in meetings, compared to 49 items addressed in 2022. Out of the 47 agenda items, 25 addressed country-specific or regional situations and 22 thematic and other issues.

47 agenda items

25 addressed country-specific or regional situations

22 addressed thematic and other issues

Overview

In 2023, the Council considered a total of 47 agenda items compared to 49 agenda items addressed in 2022. Out of the 47 agenda items, 25 addressed country-specific or regional situations and 22 thematic and other issues. In 2023, the Council deleted the items entitled “The situation in Burundi” and “The situation in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela” from its agenda, as described in the summary statement by the Secretary-General.

For further details, explore section V of the Annex and Charts 8 and 9 below.

In 2023, for the first time since February 2019 (see S/2019/1015), Council members did not agree on the adoption of the provisional programme of work for the months of August and September, instead of which the Presidents for those months circulated informal “plans of work”.

UN Photo / Eskinder Debebe Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of June, chairs the Security Council meeting on the situation in Libya. 2 June 2023.

CHART 8

Percentage of meetings on country-specific/regional situations and thematic and other issues in 2023

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 8

UN Photo / Loey Felipe Catherine Colonna, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of France, addresses the Security Council meeting on the letter dated 13 September 2022 from the Permanent Representative of Armenia to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council. 21 September 2023.

CHART 8

Percentage of meetings on country-specific/regional situations and thematic and other issues in 2023

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 8

CHART 9

Number of meetings held and resolutions/PRSTs adopted by agenda item in 2023

_{* Under Security Council resolution}_{1244 (1999)}

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 9

Country-specific and regional situations

In 2023, the Council dealt with country-specific or regional situations in 204 meetings of the Council. Among those meetings, Africa accounted for 78 of them, followed by the Middle East with 68, Europe and Asia with 22 each, and the Americas with 14.

For further details, explore Chart 10 below.

CHART 10

Percentage of meetings by geographic region in 2023

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 10

UN Photo / Loey Felipe A view of participants ahead of the Security Council meeting on peace and security in Africa. The Council heard a report of the Secretary-General on implementation of Security Council resolutions 2320 (2016) and 2378 (2017) and considerations related to the financing of African Union peace support operations mandated by the Security Council. 25 May 2023.

CHART 10

Percentage of meetings by geographic region in 2023

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 10

Thematic and other issues

In 2023, 86 formal meetings (29.6 per cent) were held under agenda items of a thematic or cross-cutting nature. Among those meetings, most were held in connection with "Threats to international peace and security” and “Maintenance of international peace and security”. Of the meetings held in connection with “Threats to international peace and security”, which accounted for one third of all thematic meetings, most were focused on the war in Ukraine.

UN Photo / Eskinder Debebe Secretary-General António Guterres (centre at table) arrives to attend the Security Council meeting on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts. The meeting focused on "Countering terrorism and preventing violent extremism conducive to terrorism by strengthening cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations and mechanisms". At right is Verónica Nataniel Macamo Dlhovo, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mozambique. 28 March 2023.

Decisions and Voting

According to Article 27 of the Charter of the United Nations, each Council member has one vote. An affirmative vote of nine members is required for decisions to be adopted on procedural and substantive matters, including in the latter case the concurrent votes of the permanent members. In addition to procedural decisions related to the adoption of the agenda, extension of invitations and adjournment of meetings, the Council adopts resolutions and presidential statements. Council decisions also take the form of notes and letters by the President of the Council.

UN Photo / Manuel ElíasThe Security Council adopts resolution 2693 (2023) on Central African Republic sanctions. By a vote of 13 in favour, no votes against, and 2 abstentions (China, Russian Federation) the resolution was adopted by the Council. A view of Dmitry A. Polyanskiy, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, signalling abstention. 27 July 2023.

In 2023, the Security Council adopted a total of 50 resolutions, including one amendment, and six presidential statements and issued 18 notes by the President and 22 letters by the President. Council members also issued 34 press statements. The Council failed to adopt 10 draft resolutions and four sets of amendments.

50 resolutions

18 notes by the President

6 presidential statements

22 letters by the President

Overview

In 2023, the Council adopted 50 resolutions and six presidential statements.

In 2023, the Council also failed to adopt 10 draft resolutions (and four sets of amendments related thereto), most of which were in connection with “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”, while the remaining ones concerned the following items: “Threats to international peace and security”, “The situation in the Middle East” and “The situation in Mali”. By way of comparison, in 2022, the Council failed to adopt a total of seven draft resolutions.

In accordance with General Assembly resolution 76/262 of 26 April 2022, the Council submitted six special reports to the Assembly in 2023, after the casting of a veto by a permanent member.

In 2023, further to the discussions held in the context of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions, the Council issued three new notes by the President in connection with the working methods of the Council: S/2023/612 concerning the observance of minutes of silence, S/2023/615 concerning the appointment of the Chairs of the subsidiary bodies, and S/2023/945 concerning penholdership.

UN Photo / Evan Schneider A view of delegates in conversation during the Security Council meeting on the situation in Mali. In the centre at table is Robert A. Wood, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of August. The meeting discussed a Letter dated 3 August 2023 from the Panel of Experts on Mali established pursuant to resolution 2374 (2017) addressed to the President of the Security Council. 30 August 2023.

In 2023, the Council issued 22 letters by the President, compared to 27 in 2022. Most of those letters concerned the appointment of senior UN officials, while other topics included, inter alia, terms of reference of Council missions, as well as one decision on the extension of the mandate of UNOWAS.

For further details on decisions, explore Chart 11.

CHART 11

Number of resolutions, presidential statements, notes, and letters by the President 2014-2023

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 11

Procedural votes

In 2023, procedural matters were put to a vote on three occasions, compared to two such instances in 2022. In March, at a meeting held under the item “Maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine”, the Council voted on the proposal to invite a briefer under rule 39 of the Provisional Rules of Procedure, which was not adopted, having failed to receive the required number of votes (see S/PV.9286). In July, the Council held two procedural votes. On 6 July, the proposal to invite the representative of Ukraine under rule 37 to participate in the meeting on “Non-proliferation” was put to a vote and agreed upon by 12 votes in favour (see S/PV.9367). On 26 July, the proposal to invite a civil society briefer in accordance with rule 39 to participate in the meeting on “Threats to international peace and security” was also put to a vote and failed to obtain the required number of votes (see S/PV.9385).

For further details, see Chart 12.

UN Photo / Manuel Elías Domingos Estêvão Fernandes, Deputy Permanent Representative of Mozambique to the United Nations, abstains from a vote to allow the participation of the representative of Ukraine in the Security Council meeting on non-proliferation. The tally of the voting was 12 in favour (Albania, Brazil, Ecuador, France, Gabon, Ghana, Japan, Malta, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States) to 2 against (China and Russian Federation), with 1 abstention (Mozambique). 6 July 2023.

CHART 12

Procedural votes 2019-2023

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 12

Decisions by geographic region

In 2023, 45 of the 50 resolutions and four of the six presidential statements concerned country- or region-specific situations or conflicts. Africa accounted for 22 resolutions and three presidential statements, followed by the Middle East with 10 resolutions and one presidential statement, the Americas with six resolutions, Asia with five and Europe with two resolutions.

For further details, explore Chart 13.

UN Photo / Manuel Elías Mauro Luiz Iecker Vieira (right), Minister for Foreign Affairs of Brazil and President of the Security Council for the month of October, greets Faisal bin Farhan Al Furhan Al-Saud, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, ahead of the Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. At left is Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan. 24 October 2023.

CHART 13

Percentage of decisions by geographic region in 2023

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 13

Press statements

In 2023, Council members issued 34 press statements, a significant drop compared to 68 in 2022. Of these 34, 14 press statements concerned political developments, peace and electoral processes, while 20 were issued in connection with terrorist-related activities, attacks against civilians or attacks against United Nations personnel in the field.

For further details, explore Figure 3 below.

UN Photo / Manuel Elías Permanent Representatives of United Arab Emirates, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland brief press on climate, peace and security. 21 March 2023.

FIGURE 3

Frequency of countries referred to in press statements in 2023

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Figure 3

Sponsorship

A Council member or any other Member State, whether Council member or not, that directly submits a draft resolution is referred to as a sponsor or co-sponsor. A draft resolution co-sponsored by all Council members is referred to as a “presidential text”. In 2023, no presidential text was adopted, as was the case the year prior, in contrast to six presidential texts adopted in 2021. In 2023, among the adopted resolutions that were open to co-sponsorship, the two that recorded the highest number of co-sponsors were resolution 2681 (2023), regarding the status of women and girls in Afghanistan, totalling 91 Member States, including 13 Council members; and resolution 2698 (2023), renewing the authorizations to intercept vessels off the Libyan coast suspected of migrant smuggling and human trafficking, co-sponsored by 29 Member States. Among the draft resolutions that were not adopted and were open to co-sponsorship, draft resolution S/2023/970, which would have demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, received the support of 102 Member States, but failed to be adopted due to a veto cast by a permanent member. Similarly, draft resolution S/2023/772, which would have called for an immediate, durable and fully respected humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, recorded a total of 26 co-sponsors among the Member States.

For further details, see Chart 14 below.

UN Photo / Loey Felipe Security Council unanimously adopts resolution 2681 (2023) condemning the decision by the Taliban to ban Afghan women from working for the United Nations in Afghanistan, which undermines human rights and humanitarian principles. 27 April 2023.

CHART 14

Number of presidential texts for the period 2014-2023

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 14

Voting

In 2023, 35 out of 50 resolutions (or 70 per cent) were adopted unanimously compared to 66.7 per cent in 2022. Five of the 15 resolutions not adopted unanimously related to sanctions (Al-Shabaab, Central African Republic, Libya, Sudan and South Sudan), four to peacekeeping operations (MINUSCA, MINURSO, UNIFIL and UNMISS) and one concerned a special political mission (UNITAMS). The remaining five resolutions not adopted unanimously concerned, respectively, the renewal of authorizations to intercept vessels off the Libyan coast suspected of migrant smuggling and human trafficking, the establishment of the Multinational Security Support mission in Haiti, the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question and the situation in Afghanistan. In addition, one amendment (S/2023/1023) submitted in connection with resolution 2719 (2023) concerning the financing of African Union-led peace support operations, was also adopted non-unanimously.

For further details, explore section VI of the Annex.

In 2023, the Council failed to adopt 10 draft resolutions in connection with “The situation in the Middle East” and specifically the cross-border mechanism for the provision of humanitarian aid into Syria, “The situation in Mali”, “Threats to international peace and security”, and “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”. In connection with the latter, in addition to the draft resolutions, the Council failed to adopt two sets of amendments submitted in writing (S/2023/775 and S/2023/776) (see S/PV.9442), as well as two amendments proposed orally (see S/PV.9479 and S/PV.9520).

Of the 10 draft resolutions and four amendments not adopted in 2023, there were a total of seven instances of a veto cast on five draft resolutions and one amendment in connection with “The situation in the Middle East” and specifically the cross-border mechanism for the provision of humanitarian aid into Syria, “The situation in Mali” and “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”. The vetoes cast in connection with five draft resolutions and one amendment were included in the six special reports submitted to the General Assembly in accordance with resolution 76/262 (A/77/965, A/78/341, A/78/549, A/78/556, A/78/667 and A/78/691). For further details, explore section VII of the Annex.

UN Photo / Manuel Elías The Security Council votes on a second draft resolution during the meeting on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. The resolution, submitted by the Russian Federation and others, received 4 votes in favour (China, Gabon, Russian Federation, United Arab Emirates), 9 abstentions, and 2 votes against (United Kingdom and United States). The Resolution was not adopted having failed to obtain the required number of votes. 25 October 2023.

In the period from 2014 to 2023, the Council adopted a total of 589 resolutions, out of which 494 or 84 per cent were adopted unanimously. In this period, 42 vetoes were cast in connection with 32 draft resolutions and amendments. Chart 15 below shows the voting record for draft resolutions tabled in the period 2014 to 2023, illustrating the number of draft resolutions adopted unanimously and non-unanimously, as well as the number of draft resolutions vetoed or not adopted due to the failure to obtain the required number of votes. By way of comparison, a total of 17 vetoes were cast in the period 2004 to 2013. For a historic and up-to-date overview of vetoes at the Council, see Peace and Security Data Hub.

CHART 15

Voting on draft resolutions in the period 2014-2023

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 15

Cross-cutting issues in country- and region-specific decisions of the Security Council

In 2023, the Council continued its practice of including provisions on cross-cutting issues, namely the protection of civilians in armed conflict (POC), women and peace and security (WPS) and children and armed conflict (CAAC), in its resolutions and presidential statements relating to country-specific or regional situations. In 2023, the Council adopted 45 resolutions and presidential statements relating to country-specific or regional situations, 31 of which contained one or more provisions on POC (69 per cent); 23 of which contained one or more provisions on WPS (51 per cent); and 15 of which contained one or more provisions on CAAC (33 per cent), continuing the downward trend since 2021.

For further details, explore Chart 16 below.

Additional information is available in the CAAC, POC and WPS interactive dashboards prepared by the Security Council Affairs Division.

UN Photo / Manuel Elías Hala Al-Karib, Regional Director of the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa, briefs the Security Council meeting on women and peace and security, with a focus on women’s participation in international peace and security: from theory to practice. 25 October 2023.

CHART 16

Number of decisions adopted under country-specific or regional situations with provisions on POC, WPS or CAAC 2014-2023

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 16

Resolutions under Chapter VII

In 2023, out of a total of 50, the Council adopted 25 resolutions explicitly under Chapter VII of the Charter, 17 of which concerned the African continent. Resolutions adopted under Chapter VII were mainly related to the renewal of sanctions regimes, mandates of United Nations peacekeeping operations and the authorization of operations led by regional arrangements. In addition, in October, the Council authorized the deployment of a Multinational Security Support mission to Haiti to support the Haitian National Police to re-establish security in the country. Nine of the 25 resolutions adopted under Chapter VII received non-unanimous support, primarily concerning the renewal of sanctions regimes.

For further details, explore section IX of the Annex and Chart 17 below.

UN Photo / Paulo Filgueiras Sérgio França Danese (centre left), Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of October, greets Jean Victor Geneus, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Haiti, after the Security Council meeting on the question concerning Haiti. The Council adopted resolution 2699 (2023), authorizing Member States that have noti ed the Secretary-General of their participation to form and deploy a Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission with a lead country, in close cooperation and coordination with the Government of Haiti, for an initial period of twelve months following the adoption of this resolution. 2 October 2022.

CHART 17

Resolutions adopted explicitly under Chapter VII of the Charter in 2023

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 17

Subsidiary Bodies

Article 29 of the Charter provides that the Council may establish such subsidiary organs as it deems necessary for the performance of its functions. This is also reflected in Rule 28 of the Provisional Rules of Procedure.

Throughout its history, the Council has established a wide variety of subsidiary organs, such as committees, working groups, investigative bodies, tribunals, ad hoc commissions, as well as peacekeeping and special political missions and sanctions committees, and their mandate can range from procedural matters to substantive ones.

UN Photo / Eskinder Debebe Christine Fossen, Police Commissioner at United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), briefs the Security Council meeting on United Nations peacekeeping operations and police commissioners. 14 November 2023

In 2023, the Council adopted decisions concerning the mandate of nine peacekeeping operations (out of 12 active ones) and nine special political missions (out of 12 that were in operation), primarily extending their mandates. The Council decided to terminate the mandates of one peacekeeping operation (MINUSMA) and one special political mission (UNITAMS).

9 peacekeeping operations

9 special political missions

UN Peacekeeping Operations and Special Political Missions

UN Photo / Harandane Dicko El-Ghassim Wane (not pictured), Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), visits the Ménaka Region in Mali, together with officials from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). 22 March 2023.

In 2023, the Council adopted decisions concerning the mandate of nine peacekeeping operations (out of 12 that were in operation) and nine special political missions (out of 12 that were in operation), primarily extending their mandates. The Council decided to terminate the mandates of MINUSMA effective 31 December 2023 and UNITAMS effective 3 December 2023.

In 2023, the Council extended the mandates of nine peacekeeping operations (UNFICYP, UNMISS, UNDOF, MINUSMA, UNIFIL, MINURSO, UNISFA, MINUSCA and MONUSCO), as well as nine special political missions (UNOWAS, UNAMA, UNAMI, UNITAMS, UNMHA, BINUH, UNSMIL, the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia and UNSOM). The mandates of the three long-standing peacekeeping missions (UNMOGIP, UNMIK and UNTSO), and two special political missions (UNRCCA and UNSCOL) remained open-ended. The mandate of UNOWAS was extended in 2023 by an exchange of letters until 2026 (see S/2023/70 and S/2023/71), while that of UNOCA had been extended in 2021 until 2024. The Council modified the duration of the mandates of two missions, establishing a longer mandate period for UNFICYP (12 months) and a shorter period for UNITAMS (six months) before terminating its mandate in December.

Changes to mission configuration and mandates

In 2023, one peacekeeping operation underwent a revision of its authorized uniformed personnel strength. By resolution 2717 (2023), the Council took note of MONUSCO’s comprehensive disengagement plan and decided that, from 1 July 2024 onwards, the Mission would be reduced to 11,500 military personnel, 600 military observers and staff officers, 443 police personnel, and 1,270 personnel of formed police units.

With regard to special political missions, in the case of BINUH, the Council decided that its police and corrections unit would include up to 70 civilian and seconded personnel, while in the case of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, the Council authorised up to 68 additional international observers. Moreover, the tasks of the Verification Mission were expanded to include the verification of the provisions of the Final Agreement related to comprehensive rural reform and ethnic perspectives, as well as the monitoring and verifying the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between the Government of Colombia and the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN).

Additional information on the mandates of peacekeeping operations and special political missions is available in the Field Missions Dashboard prepared by the Security Council Affairs Division.

UN Photo / Evan Schneider Álvaro Leyva Durán (left), Minister for Foreign Affairs of Colombia, speaks with participants ahead of the Security Council meeting on the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia. 13 April 2023.

In 2023, the Council adopted decisions concerning the mandate of nine sanctions committees and 10 monitoring groups, teams and panels of experts that support the work of 11 of the 14 sanctions committees. The Council did not renew the sanctions measures relating to Mali in 2023, thereby effectively terminating the mandate of the Committee and the Panel of Experts established in 2017. The Council also lifted the arms embargo concerning Somalia, while renewing the existing sanctions measures with a focus on Al-Shabaab.

9 sanctions committees

10 monitoring groups, teams and panels

FIGURE 4

UN Peacekeeping Operations and Special Political Missions in 2023

yellow

_{Peacekeeping Operation}

teal

_{Special Political Mission}

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD

Sanctions and other Committees and Working Groups

Additional information on the mandates of peacekeeping operations and special political missions is available in the Field Missions Dashboard prepared by the Security Council Affairs Division.

UN Photo / Loey Felipe Harold Adlai Agyeman (right), Permanent Representative of Ghana to the United Nations, briefs the Security Council meeting as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1591 (2005) concerning the Sudan. 12 September 2023

CHART 18

Meetings and briefings per Sanctions and other Committees and Working Groups in 2023

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 18

Chairs of Sanctions and other Committees and Working Groups

According to the presidential note of 30 August 2017 (S/2017/507), members of the Council should make every effort to agree provisionally on the appointment of the Chairs of the subsidiary bodies for the following year by no later than 1 October (S/2023/2). The presidential note of 27 December 2019 (S/2019/991) provides further that the selection of the Chairs should take place in a balanced, transparent, efficient and inclusive way. In 2023, the number of Chairs of subsidiary bodies who were women was seven (29 per cent), while the number of Chairs who were men was 17 (71 per cent) and the number of experts who were women in a Panel/Group of Experts was 28 (43 per cent) while the number of experts who were men was 37 (57 per cent).

For additional information about the composition of the bureaux of the Security Council subsidiary organs, see Chairs and Vice-Chairs Dashboard, prepared by the Security Council Affairs Division.

UN Photo / Cia Pak Michel Xavier Biang, Permanent Representative of Gabon to the United Nations, briefs, in his capacity as Chair of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolution 1533 (2004), the Security Council meeting on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). 28 September 2023.

CHART 19

Chairs of Sanctions and other Committees and Working Groups 2019-2023

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 19

Individuals and entities on Security Council sanctions and restrictive measures lists

In 2023, a total of 676 individuals and 193 entities were subject to United Nations targeted sanctions and restrictive measures such as asset freeze, travel ban and arms embargo. A consolidated list containing the names of the individuals and entities subject to United Nations targeted measures is also available on the Security Council website. In 2023, 10 individuals and one entity were added to the list. The charts below illustrate the number of listed individuals and entities for each sanctions committee as well as those added in 2023. Information on each committee, including individuals and entities designated by the relevant committee and the applicable sanctions measures, as well as the procedures for the processing of listing and delisting requests can be found on the Security Council website. For further details, explore Chart 20 below.

UN Photo / Evan Schneider Natalia Gherman, Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, briefs the Security Council meeting on threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts. The Council heard the seventeenth report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by ISIL (Da’esh) to international peace and security and the range of United Nations efforts in support of Member States in countering the threat. 25 August 2023.

CHART 20

Individuals and entities listed as of 31 December 2023

_{* Upon implementation of resolution}_{2231 (2015)}

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 20

De-listings from Security Council sanctions committees’ lists in 2023

In 2023, 61 entities and 36 individuals were removed (also referred to as “de-listed”) from the respective sanctions lists. De-listing requests in relation to the ISIL (Da’esh) & Al-Qaida Sanctions List are submitted directly to the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee or the Office of the Ombudsperson. De-listing requests with respect to all other sanctions lists are submitted to the respective sanctions committees or through the Focal Point for De-listing in the Secretariat. Any Member State can propose the de-listing of an individual or an entity. The relevant committee then considers the proposal, often in consultation with the designating State, and makes a final decision on whether or not to de-list. Often those proposing de-listings are the State of citizenship or residence of a listed individual, the State of location or place of registration of a listed entity, the designating State itself, or a Council member. For further details, see Chart 21.

CHART 21

De-listings from Security Council Sanctions Committees in 2024

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 21

Activities of the Focal Point for De-listing and Office of the Ombudsperson

UN Photo / Manuel Elías Vanessa Frazier, Permanent Representative of Malta to the United Nations, addresses the Security Council meeting on non-proliferation. 6 July 2023.

In addition to the Member States’ ability to de-list, two mechanisms have been established to strengthen the de-listing process: the Office of the Focal Point for De-listing and the Office of the Ombudsperson. Established in 2006, the Office of the Focal Point for De-listing has received a total of 121 requests to de-list individuals and/or entities. 113 of these requests have been processed while eight are pending. As a result of this process, a total of 17 individuals and 17 entities have been de-listed and 58 individuals and 20 entities remain on the list. The Office of the Ombudsperson, established to serve as the de-listing mechanism for the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, has received a total of 109 requests to de-list individuals and/or entities since 2009, of which 105 have been processed and four are pending. As a result, a total of 65 individuals and 28 entities have been de-listed and 29 listings remain. The mandate of the Office of the Ombudsperson had been extended in 2021 for an additional period of 30 months until 2024 by resolution 2610 (2021), followed by the appointment of the current Ombudsperson (S/2022/68). For further details, explore Charts 22 and 23 below.

CHART 22

De-listings by the Focal Point for De-listing as of the end of 2023

_{* For details on the procedures of the Focal Point for De-listing and the Office of the Ombudsperson, visit the}_website_.

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 22

CHART 23

De-listings by the Office of the Ombudsperson as of the end of 2023

_{* For details on the procedures of the Focal Point for De-listing and the Office of the Ombudsperson, visit the}_website_.

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 23

Mandate extensions of Security Council Subsidiary Bodies

The chart below shows the number of Council resolutions extending the mandate of subsidiary bodies of the Council per month over the last five years. For further details, explore section X of the Annex.

MONUSCO / Michael AliKalonge,South Kivu Province,DRC: The civil Affairs section of MONUSCO Bukavu led a Joint Assessment Mission to Kalonge groupment in South Kivu from the 18-20 April 2023. The team was composed of UNJHRO, UNPOL, DDRRR, and accompanied by national partners from the P-DDRCS and the ministry of interior in South Kivu.The mission was a result of increasing reports from civil society and the community alert network focal points of Kalonge and Bitale commercial center about recurrent incursions by armed groups committing several human rights violations and various PoC threats against the civilian population. 19 April 2023.

CHART 24

Mandate renewal per month 2019-2023

SOURCE: SCPCRB/SCAD Expand Chart 24

Highlights of Security Council Practice 2023

Introduction

Meetings

In 2023, the Council held a total of 290 meetings and 124 consultations of the whole, averaging 24 meetings and 10 consultations per month.

Overview

CHART 1A

Number of Security Council meetings and consultations 1946-2023

CHART 1B

Number of Security Council meetings and consultations 2014-2023

Meetings and consultations

CHART 2

Number of Security Council meetings and consultations by month in 2023

High-level meetings

Representatives on the Council

CHART 3A

Permanent Representatives (PR) on the Council 2019-2023

CHART 3B

Deputy Permanent Representatives (DPR) on the Council 2019-2023

Invitations under rule 39 of the Provisional Rules of Procedure

CHART 4A

Rule 39 invitees 2014-2023

CHART 4B

Rule 39 invitees 2014-2023 (by gender)

Informal consultations of the whole

FIGURE 1

Frequency of topics discussed in informal consultations of the whole in 2023

Informal interactive dialogues

CHART 5

Number of informal interactive dialogues (IIDs) 2014-2023

Arria-formula meetings

CHART 6

Number of Arria-formula meetings 2014-2023

In 2023, several Council members continued to coalesce around policy goals, regions and thematic issues, including on Women and Peace and Security and on Climate and Peace and Security.

Coalescing within the Council

Missions

In 2023, the Council sent one mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, co-led by France and Gabon, and one to Ethiopia, co-led by Brazil and Mozambique.

Missions in 2023

FIGURE 2

Security Council missions in 2023

CHART 7

Number of Security Council missions by region 2014-2023

Agenda

In 2023, the Security Council considered a total of 47 agenda items in meetings, compared to 49 items addressed in 2022. Out of the 47 agenda items, 25 addressed country-specific or regional situations and 22 thematic and other issues.

Overview

CHART 8

Percentage of meetings on country-specific/regional situations and thematic and other issues in 2023

CHART 8

Percentage of meetings on country-specific/regional situations and thematic and other issues in 2023

CHART 9

Number of meetings held and resolutions/PRSTs adopted by agenda item in 2023

Country-specific and regional situations

CHART 10

Percentage of meetings by geographic region in 2023

CHART 10

Percentage of meetings by geographic region in 2023

Thematic and other issues

Decisions and Voting

Overview

CHART 11

Number of resolutions, presidential statements, notes, and letters by the President 2014-2023

Procedural votes

CHART 12

Procedural votes 2019-2023

Decisions by geographic region

CHART 13

Percentage of decisions by geographic region in 2023

Press statements

FIGURE 3

Frequency of countries referred to in press statements in 2023

Sponsorship

CHART 14

Number of presidential texts for the period 2014-2023

Voting

CHART 15

Voting on draft resolutions in the period 2014-2023

Cross-cutting issues in country- and region-specific decisions of the Security Council

CHART 16

Number of decisions adopted under country-specific or regional situations with provisions on POC, WPS or CAAC 2014-2023

Resolutions under Chapter VII

CHART 17